A routine traffic stop for a burn ban violation ended with narcotics arrests, and a crash investigation led to the capture of a wanted man as the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office reported a busy weekend between February 13 and 16, 2026. Deputies handled 783 calls for service, made 135 traffic stops, and arrested 10 people during the period from 6 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday.
Lit Ember Tossed from Car Window Sparks Drug Arrests
On Friday evening, detectives from the FCSO Problem Area Crime Enforcement Unit, known as the PACE Unit, initiated a traffic stop on Pine Lakes Parkway in Palm Coast after a detective observed a lit ember thrown from the passenger-side window of a white Toyota Camry directly in front of him. Flagler County is currently under a burn ban due to dry conditions and elevated fire risk, and Florida Statute 590.10 prohibits any person from throwing, dropping, or disposing of a lighted match, cigarette, cigar, ashes, or other flaming or glowing substance from a vehicle.
Detectives identified the driver as Stacey Pringle, 55, of Palm Coast, and the front-seat passenger as Christian Heighley, 47, of Palm Coast. Detectives reported that Heighley appeared extremely nervous during the stop, moving around inside the vehicle and repeatedly reaching toward his waistband and out of the detective’s view. After both occupants were asked to exit the vehicle, detectives reported smelling a strong odor of marijuana coming from Heighley. He told detectives he had a medical marijuana card but was unsure if it was valid. A search revealed the card had expired in 2021. Detectives found marijuana in a clear plastic bag that was not in proper dispensary packaging, as well as a bag containing methamphetamine. Heighley denied the methamphetamine was his, despite it being found in his pocket.
During a search of Pringle, detectives found two small plastic bags of methamphetamine inside a container on her keychain and another bag of methamphetamine inside her bra. At the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, detention deputies conducting a more thorough search found yet another bag of methamphetamine hidden in Pringle’s bra, leading to an additional charge.
Heighley was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana of 20 grams or less, and disposing of a lighted substance. Pringle was arrested for possession of methamphetamine with intent to sell, possession of drug paraphernalia, and introduction of contraband into a county detention facility.
“This started as a simple traffic stop because one of the vehicle occupants violated the conditions of a burn ban and Florida law right in front of our detectives, but it turned into the arrest of a drug dealer and getting poison off our streets,” said Sheriff Rick Staly. “If you bring illegal drugs into our community, we will find them, no matter where you try to hide them, and we will arrest you and hold you accountable.”
Pringle was released from the detention facility on a $5,500 bond. Heighley is being held on a $3,500 bond.
Crash Investigation Leads to Fugitive’s Arrest
In a separate incident early Sunday morning, deputies responding to a traffic crash at the intersection of Pine Lakes Parkway and Commerce Boulevard in Palm Coast recognized one of the drivers as a man with an active felony warrant. The deputy confirmed the driver’s identity as Jacob Spicer, 30, of Palm Coast, and verified that Spicer had a warrant for grand theft that had been issued just one day before the crash.
“This arrest was made thanks to a deputy that responded to a crash and recognized one of the drivers as a fugitive,” said Sheriff Staly. “This arrest is also a testament to our use of District Policing, as it allows our deputies to familiarize themselves with their patrol district and the residents and criminals they may encounter in the area.”
Spicer was booked into the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility and later released on a $25,000 bond.
